tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64269834151341630572018-03-05T12:36:21.431-08:00The Adventures Of A Hospital VolunteerThe Tales &amp; Life Of A Chronic Home Shopper and Future AirmanHospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-17430167590399312742011-08-04T20:58:00.000-07:002011-08-04T20:59:42.694-07:00Many Emotions....So I am about 3 weeks away from shipping to basic.... &nbsp;It's really awesome and all but I get these waves of&nbsp;being&nbsp;really pumped and then being scared <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #666666;">shitless</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #666666;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">&nbsp;(Highlight black space to see word.) &nbsp;There is really no way to explain it any better than that. &nbsp;I am ready to leave home and start my own journey but at the same time I will miss my family,&nbsp;friends, dogs,co-workers. &nbsp; &nbsp;I know basic is going to be tough and it will transform me from a teenage wanna be nurse into a man who is ready to&nbsp;conq</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #444444;">u</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">er&nbsp;anything that comes my way. &nbsp; &nbsp; But enough of my emotions for now....</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">&nbsp; &nbsp;So I only have about one week of Chicken Hell left and I am working at the bakery till September 4th. &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">&nbsp;The going away party is set.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">&nbsp;Healthcare Directive, Power of Attorney and other "morbid" paperwork is signed and notarized. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">People keep asking me if I need anything or want to do anything before I go.... &nbsp;One thing I really need is prayers and LOTS of them;specifically targeted at my fear and for safe travels/safe BMT. &nbsp;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">What I want to do is to see all of my family,friends,co-workers before I go y'all are my support and I REALLY need you right now (Even though I have my family behind me 100%). &nbsp; I know we all have our differences and some are not so supportive of me going off to be in the military &nbsp;but, I really need your support in this&nbsp;because&nbsp;I am on the edge and right now this is the HARDEST thing I have done in my short 18 almost 19 years and know that I didn't take this enlistment thing lightly. &nbsp;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pFq1eT9tMJ4?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">&nbsp; &nbsp;</span>Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0Missouri, USA37.9642529 -91.831833435.655274399999996 -95.16943839999999 40.2732314 -88.4942284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-1402930184611543722011-07-16T09:45:00.000-07:002011-07-16T09:45:55.032-07:00Alot running through my head.<object allowfullscreen="true" height="255" id="uvp_fop" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://d.yimg.com/m/up/fop/embedflv/swf/fop.swf"/><param name="flashVars" value="id=v2171374&amp;eID=1301797&amp;lang=us&amp;enableFullScreen=0&amp;shareEnable=1"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><embed height="255" width="400" id="uvp_fop" allowFullScreen="true" src="http://d.yimg.com/m/up/fop/embedflv/swf/fop.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="id=v2171374&amp;eID=1301797&amp;lang=us&amp;ympsc=4195329&amp;enableFullScreen=1&amp;shareEnable=1" /></object><br /><br />So I had alot running&nbsp;through&nbsp;my head yesterday and &nbsp;this song played on the radio and it was perfect for the&nbsp;why&nbsp;I was feeling and I thought I would share it with you.Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-50200236492713028112011-07-09T17:27:00.001-07:002011-07-09T17:27:06.176-07:00Long Time No Post!<div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span>Ok, I haven't been keeping up with this whole blog thing since life has gone from normal to nuts in just a matter of months.... &nbsp;So sorry. &nbsp;So here is whats been going on the past couple of months:</span></div><div style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span><br></span></div><div style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span>Got a new job that I LOVE! &nbsp;Working at a dog bakery is the best job EVER! :D (I still work at chicken hell though)</span></div><div style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span><br></span></div><div><span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif" size="3">I got my BMT dates this week.... &nbsp;I leave September 6th for Lackland, AFB. Its scaring the living caca out of me. &nbsp;I guess its just a fear of the unknown and willingly going to hell for 2 months of my life. &nbsp; &nbsp;I will be gone till November 4th and will be back for a month till December 7th. Then its off to Ft.Sam Houston for 9 months to get my LPN ("LVN" as they call it in good ol' Texas!) &nbsp; &nbsp;till about &nbsp;April ish... then I will either get shipped to FL,NV,OH or IL to "Seasoning&nbsp;</font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif">Training</font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif" size="3">" or put the crap you learned to work. &nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span></div><div><span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif" size="3"><br></font></span></div><div><span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif" size="3">So my life is kind of out of sorts with BMT being only 2 months away. &nbsp;Like I said I AM SCARED.... &nbsp;Its like when I got the dates it FINALLY became REAL. &nbsp;My recruiter said the blood drained out of my face when I looked at the dates paper he gave me. &nbsp;</font></span></div><div><span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif" size="3"><br></font></span></div><div><span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif" size="3">I have some power of attorney stuff to get in order and some other things like notifying Chicken hell of my dates when I'm on vacation the rest of this week and next week.&nbsp;</font></span></div><div><span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif" size="3"><br></font></span></div><div><span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif" size="3">If you have any suggestions or words of support I could use them! If you have been there done that zip me an email!</font></span></div><div style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; ">&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><font class="yiv212471588Apple-style-span" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif" color="#00007f">Laus Deo,</font></div><div style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><font class="yiv212471588Apple-style-span" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif" color="#00007f"><br></font></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: tahoma, times, serif; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#00007f" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif">You newest Airman First Class:</font></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12pt; " class="yui_3_2_0_4_131025661000258"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#00007f" face="'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif">Hospital Volunteer</font></div></div>Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-80692721683409692362011-05-11T19:57:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:44:13.458-07:00LifeOk since I haven't posted for awhile.... I am still alive just really busy!&nbsp; So here is the quick version of what's been going on in my life:<br /><br /><br /><ul><li>I got a New Job!&nbsp; I am still working at chicken hell but I decided to get a second job that I would enjoy! I now work at a dog bakery and I LOVE IT!</li><li>I passed my weigh in at MEPS! I was at 185! I have LOST 25 POUNDS SINCE JANUARY!!!!!</li><li>I may or may not get an LPN spot in the reserves and will be shopping around the branches if I can't get that spot...</li><li>Graduation! The party and the stress that goes with it lol!</li></ul>So that's the quickfire version of the events and I will elaborate after sunday. :)&nbsp;Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-40725102679392041582011-04-11T13:07:00.000-07:002011-04-11T13:07:30.369-07:00Puke, Puke and more you guessed it PUKE!It started off to be really SLOW in the ED then we picked up....<br /><br />Pt.1) &nbsp; Meth addict comes in via ambulance.... &nbsp;As soon as they give her the "Reversal" drugs the erupted kind of like this :<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://epicepoch.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/volcano-eruption.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://epicepoch.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/volcano-eruption.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was quite interesting... She even hit the&nbsp;ceiling! &nbsp; &nbsp;Everyone who was in the&nbsp;vicinity&nbsp;got hit with puke...&nbsp;Note to self : &nbsp;" Always remember to stay away from the meth addicts in the ED You never know when their gunna blow...."<br /><br />Pt 2) comes in dehydrated from running a marathon in the heat wave we had... EMS can't get an IV so the comes via POV &nbsp;and puked on the floor... &nbsp;we got her an IV and a "Emisis Bucket" and she was ok.<br /><br />Pt3) Comes in with a stomach bug.... the Runs and vomit and all... YUCK! &nbsp;Pukes in triage.... *rolls eyes* yay! <br /><br />Loonie #1) &nbsp;This crazy person comes in saying she "Has a RARE&nbsp;bacterial&nbsp;punomnia" that you only can get in West&nbsp;Virginia....&nbsp;Because&nbsp;she has a cough etc... The BS meter was in Red for this one.... &nbsp; The nurses agreed. So she was put on precautions.... turned out she had mucus build up and nuttin else.... &nbsp;We will be sure to collect you copay BEFORE we let you go.<br /><br /><br />So I had my fair share of puke and loons... Puke no longer effects me... (I HOPE)<br /><br />More later!Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-28334539759391408852011-04-03T20:55:00.000-07:002011-04-03T20:55:24.503-07:00A New Department = A New Adventure!So I am back&nbsp;volunteering&nbsp;at Hospital B now that all of the crap with the ACT is OVER and School is done :) &nbsp;I decided to work in their ED just to see if the Trauma Nursing thing is for me... Oh, It IS! &nbsp;It may be a little early to make my decision but, I had alot of fun today!<br /><br />On my adventures through the 19 Room &amp; 2 Trauma Bay ED I got to&nbsp;experience:<br /><br /><br /><ul><li>Triage and the stuff that goes with it.&nbsp;</li><li>My First FULL BLOWN compound fracture (Yes the bone WAS sticking out of this poor kid's arm He was VERY BRAVE)</li><li>My second&nbsp;Cardiopulmonary&nbsp;Arrest Almost dropped in the ambulance bay &nbsp;(Yes, I have kept count. Weird I know.)</li><li>A gentleman who drove himself to the ER with a broken right ankle.</li><li>Several bumps,headaches and a busted chin on a kiddo (3 years old and he was a TROOPER!)</li><li>I &nbsp;got to see 3 Traumas roll in. &nbsp;( a big car wreck and the heart attack victim mentioned above)</li><li>I also got to see a criminal get arrested in the ED after he was treated. &nbsp;I should be use to it since my dad is a police officer but, I'm not lol! &nbsp;I was more curious what kind of trouble he was in by "stocking the room" but, I kept my big nose out of it.&nbsp;</li></ul><div>Part of my duties is to go running out the door when a car pulls up and offer a wheel chair to the incoming <s>Victims</s> &nbsp;(I mean) Patients. &nbsp;The kiddo with a compound fracture &nbsp;pulled up and omg I almost passed out. No amount of Civil Air Patrol Search and Rescue trauma&nbsp;training&nbsp;prepares&nbsp;you for that. (NONE)</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all it was a pretty awesome day and I can't wait to go back!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-42564870824717358582011-03-15T06:41:00.000-07:002011-03-15T06:41:16.389-07:00Hospital Volunteer Saves A Life....So at Hospital B I volunteer in the CT Department and Some Patients come into the ED with iodine &amp; sulfa allergies. &nbsp;So when the MD in the ED ordered a <a href="http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/361131-overview">CT Chest PE (Pulmonary&nbsp;Embolism) protoco</a>l &nbsp;for this&nbsp;gentleman who was allergic to the contrast dye that we pump into a patient so we can see if there is/was clots,blood flow where there shouldn't be etc... &nbsp; &nbsp;They prepped him per hospital protocol waited for the meds to kick in and then he sent him over for us to scan him. &nbsp; &nbsp;So the tech takes the "Scout" scans first to make sure everything is in line and that it looks good. &nbsp;Then she took the first part of the scan with out contrast then during the pause where she can go in and start pumping the contrast in our patient also while making sure the&nbsp;vein&nbsp;doesn't&nbsp;blow, the pump didn't blow the syringe full of&nbsp;contrast&nbsp;up (has happened before) etc.... <br /><br />She then&nbsp;proceeded&nbsp;to come back start up the scanner and make it hum (or scream)&nbsp;because&nbsp;it is such a high resolution scan the scanner is taking "Slices" or Pictures every two or so seconds. &nbsp;Lots of radiation with this type of scan too. &nbsp;So she pumps the patient full of contrast then all of a sudden I notice the patent stops breathing I let the tech who is looking at the slices as they appear on the screen... she&nbsp;yells (because&nbsp;the scanner is really loud with a PE protocol)&nbsp;over the scanners PA system <b>"ARE YOU OK?"</b> No&nbsp;response.... she&nbsp;slammed&nbsp;the big red emergency stop button &nbsp;and runs into the room &nbsp;she yells at me to call a STAT then get the Ambu Bag and help her.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;I get a hold of the STAT Operator &nbsp;<b>"STAT IN CT 1!"</b> I yelled into the phone... &nbsp;"Are you sure?" she asked. My exact words where <b>"I SURE AS HELL AM! HE IS CODING ON THE TABLE AND THE TECH IS&nbsp;STARTING&nbsp;COMPRESSIONS!"</b> &nbsp;"Ok, I will Page a STAT" &nbsp; &nbsp;I run in grab the Ambu bag &nbsp;remembered the ABCD's,Head Tilt ,Chin Lift, E/C Hold and started 2 squeezes of the bag after the tech paused compressions,re-assessed &amp; switched places... &nbsp; It seemed like forever for the stat page to go over the PA.... &nbsp; The stat team from the ED &nbsp;across the hall arrived in about 45 seconds and took over and carted him off to the trauma bay. &nbsp;He survived according to the Grumpy ED doc "Because&nbsp;of Our Quick Actions" &nbsp;I about fell out of my chair Half&nbsp;because&nbsp;he NEVER EVER speaks to us or other staff (unless to give orders) and the other half from me coming off of my adrenaline high... After that My shift was up and I had to go to work.<br /><br />Oh, Just so you all know I wasn't suppose to assist the tech with CPR&nbsp;because&nbsp;it's a liability even though yours truly has a BLS and is currently working on my ACLS and PAL certs. &nbsp;The tech and the hospital still deny it to this day.<br /><br />This sums up another adventure! Off to Hospital A today on the floor!Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-78819391145546543122011-03-08T20:03:00.000-08:002011-03-09T19:57:42.289-08:00A Disclaimer<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Because&nbsp;I spoke with the Head Nurse Of The PACU today about blogging my adventures and anonymity(A Nice Chat and I was so happy I wasn't in toruble)...I want to make sure all readers know this and so I have all of my bases covered.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here We Go :)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">*Clears Throat*</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Please note that all content on Hospital Volunteer that is not otherwise licensed is licensed under a Creative Commons agreement. What this means is that&nbsp;<b>I don't mind if you repost or borrow things as long as you check with me firs<u>t</u></b><u>. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">All patients, doctors, and nurses are fictionalized to protect the innocent or guilty.</span></b></u> <b>What *that* means is that if I write about something that happened "yesterday", it could easily have happened last week or last year</b> .&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This blog is not intended to be used for, and the author of this blog will not give, advice on medical matters. If you have a problem, see a professional instead of some schmo on the Internet. If you don't like things that are tongue-in-cheek, you should go somewhere much more earnest.</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Everything here is mine unless otherwise credited. If I've messed up and quoted you without attribution, please let me know and I'll rectify it ASAP. Likewise, if I manage to make a real howler either in spelling or information, tell me. That means that everything that I get wrong is my own fault, while everything that turns out okay is entirely due to the goodwill and grace of other people.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This will be added to the "Legal Stuff" tab on the top of the page. &nbsp; I will also do my very best at keeping this blog professional at all times and I may flub up so If I do please let me know and I will fix it.</div></div>Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-70097913767594229162011-03-06T17:00:00.000-08:002011-03-06T17:00:02.657-08:00An International Sensation!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="GK43L3BBMO"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: middle;" width="380px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><div class="gwt-HTML"><div class="GK43L3BBGP GK43L3BBHP">&nbsp;</div><div class="GK43L3BBGP GK43L3BBHP">United States&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </div></div></td><td align="right" style="vertical-align: middle;"><div class="GK43L3BBLO">342</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="GK43L3BBMO"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: middle;" width="380px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><div class="gwt-HTML"><div class="GK43L3BBGP GK43L3BBHP">United Kingdom&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </div></div></td><td align="right" style="vertical-align: middle;"><div class="GK43L3BBLO">5</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="GK43L3BBMO"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: middle;" width="380px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><div class="gwt-HTML"><div class="GK43L3BBGP GK43L3BBHP">Canada</div></div></td><td align="right" style="vertical-align: middle;"><div class="GK43L3BBLO">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="GK43L3BBMO"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: middle;" width="380px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><div class="gwt-HTML"><div class="GK43L3BBGP GK43L3BBHP">Russia</div></div></td><td align="right" style="vertical-align: middle;"><div class="GK43L3BBLO">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="GK43L3BBMO"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: middle;" width="380px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><div class="gwt-HTML"><div class="GK43L3BBGP GK43L3BBHP">Slovenia</div></div></td><td align="right" style="vertical-align: middle;"><div class="GK43L3BBLO">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="GK43L3BBMO"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: middle;" width="380px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><div class="gwt-HTML"><div class="GK43L3BBGP GK43L3BBHP">Germany&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </div></div></td><td align="right" style="vertical-align: middle;"><div class="GK43L3BBLO">2</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="GK43L3BBMO"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: middle;" width="380px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><div class="gwt-HTML"><div class="GK43L3BBGP GK43L3BBHP">Croatia</div></div></td><td align="right" style="vertical-align: middle;"><div class="GK43L3BBLO">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="GK43L3BBMO"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: middle;" width="380px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;"><div class="gwt-HTML"><div class="GK43L3BBGP GK43L3BBHP">Netherlands</div></div></td><td align="right" style="vertical-align: middle;"><div class="GK43L3BBLO" style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1</div><div class="GK43L3BBLO"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I&nbsp; would like to thank all of my readers from all of these countries! Y'all are AWESOME!&nbsp; </div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-37588877763068309922011-02-28T06:23:00.000-08:002011-02-28T06:23:49.752-08:00This winter has SUCKEDSo I am going to recap this winter just because it sucked SO BAD; I have to admit there where good parts but there are more bad then good....<br /><br />&nbsp;The Bad<br /><ol><li>My dad has had to deal with loosing three colleagues and friends to different deaths.</li><li>My Cousin's Husband lost his life on Saturday after emergency Open Heart Surgery.</li><li>I had to take the ACT&nbsp; 2 times and only raised my score by one FREAKING POINT!</li></ol>The Good<br /><br /><ol><li>I have been successful in loosing weight</li><li>My Family has been safe in this CRAZY weather.</li><li>I still have a Job in this economy.</li></ol><br />I am working on shadowing my brother's Hospice nurses and seeing what they do.&nbsp; I will keep yall posted.Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-53698597381457619732011-02-20T12:54:00.000-08:002011-02-20T12:54:34.482-08:00So I was thinking....So I was thinking (again) while I was cleaning at work while my manager and the manager-in-traning where in the back office closing out for the night and I was left to do the cleaning we had left to do on frontline&nbsp; for the night (Didn't mind one bit b/c I like cleaning alone and it gives me a chance to think).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At the time alot was running through my head and I needed to sort it all out.&nbsp;<br /><br />I usually think about my brother more this time of year than usual; I think about him all the time just more in the spring because he drastically got worse in mid Feb.-May when he finally got to go see Jesus.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So I was thinking about that,crying and wiping down the Ice Cream machine.&nbsp; Then I thought about all of the awesome people in Hospice, our friends&nbsp; and every other organization that was there and helped us through it all and how I now get to do the same for someone else and their families.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was humbling when I thought about what i get to see: Life come into this world, I see the trauma that effects it, I see life saving surgeries and Rehab. I also see patients when God calls them home.<br /><br />I get to be in those patients and their family's lives for that time and learn about the whole care process of life and for that I am and will be forever grateful because they allowed<b> ME this little nothing volunteer in to their lives</b> to spend a little time with them and try to make a difference in their lives.&nbsp; I was humbled by this and&nbsp; I am still trying to wrap my head around it (as you can tell).<br /><br />Before this moment I kind of had an attitude when people where stupid at work (the customers being rude,didn't know what they want in the DT holding up my line making it more difficult to move fast and serve more people and make our Hour $$$ good)&nbsp; and kind of having an attitude period.&nbsp; I think this was God giving me a "Hey Stupid! Get you head out of your ass and get rid of the tude."&nbsp; Since then, I have tried to a good attitude toward everyone even though it has been really hard.<br /><br />Here is a Music Video From Addison Road One of my Favorite Artists:<br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://www.godtube.com/embed/source/92mc91nu.js?w=400&amp;h=255&amp;ap=false&amp;sl=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br /><br /><br />Enjoy!Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-39391659944908981912011-02-14T09:42:00.000-08:002011-02-14T09:42:05.134-08:00A funny for Singles Awareness Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWHGfDK9vLw/TVlpNperCVI/AAAAAAAAADM/6BNURNrHu7M/s1600/129048609463267260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWHGfDK9vLw/TVlpNperCVI/AAAAAAAAADM/6BNURNrHu7M/s320/129048609463267260.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0v5p5VnJRs/TVlpOABXpNI/AAAAAAAAADQ/rZyXTaxVb84/s1600/129206448300335250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0v5p5VnJRs/TVlpOABXpNI/AAAAAAAAADQ/rZyXTaxVb84/s320/129206448300335250.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uymc_H36HQA/TVlpObQ_liI/AAAAAAAAADU/g9Nq4HCJFI8/s1600/funny-dog-pictures-feel-martini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uymc_H36HQA/TVlpObQ_liI/AAAAAAAAADU/g9Nq4HCJFI8/s320/funny-dog-pictures-feel-martini.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQHaNSkx7yg/TVlpOh63Q3I/AAAAAAAAADY/kzDShwasTUc/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQHaNSkx7yg/TVlpOh63Q3I/AAAAAAAAADY/kzDShwasTUc/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-58070051706882794942011-02-11T14:48:00.000-08:002011-02-12T22:47:22.223-08:00"Funny" Stories from the CT Department....Ok Since I really haven't posted anything about hospital B on this blog here we go!<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">St.Patrick's Day 2010</span></b> : &nbsp; An older woman comes into the ED for a Head CT the Reason for scan says "Trauma" anyone knows in this is not a good enough reason. &nbsp;So I call the Ed and tell them to send her over so we can microwave "Fry" her brain to see what is wrong. :) &nbsp; &nbsp;So the tech drops her off and runs in the other direction away from us and the ED... So, we get her set up and the CT Tech asks her "What Happened" &nbsp; &nbsp;She Replies " Well, I fell off of a golf cart when we hit a pot hole in the St.Patrick's Day parade Downtown..." &nbsp;*Tech and I &nbsp;attempt to stifle laughter* &nbsp;"It's Ok to laugh, I think it's kind of funny too!" &nbsp; So we all had a good laugh and that story made my day xD &nbsp;She was fine and got sent home with a huge goose egg on her head.<br /><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The Morning After Prom 2010: &nbsp; <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">So, I was working the day after prom with the two techs that where there that day... &nbsp;We see a <b>STAT</b> CT Abdomen/Pelvis w/wo contrast for &nbsp;17 y/o male pop up on our screen from the ED. The reason for exam &nbsp;"Fell Down Stairs". &nbsp;I said that "He probable pissed his girlfriend off after prom and she pushed him down the stairs." &nbsp;<b><u> I was RIGHT!</u></b> &nbsp;He pissed her off so badly that she THREW him down the stairs (he only weighed about 150-65. I could have picked him up and done the same thing.) &nbsp; Toni (one of the techs) is kind of OCD and she told him his socks didn't watch and it bothered her. (LOL!) &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">I also have determined that most of the radiologists and doctors are very nice and some are complete A-Holes and especially &nbsp;Miss. I'M FRESH OUT OF MED SCHOOL POMPAS ASS ATTITUDE (AKA Queen B Radiologist).... Everyone HATES HER .</span></span></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Anyway, I hope this made you laugh today! &nbsp;More Posts Brewing....</span></span></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Love always,</span></span></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></b><br />HsptlVolunteer<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></b>Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-49680129351484448822011-02-07T06:52:00.000-08:002011-02-07T06:52:56.449-08:00Fireflight - For Those Who Wait<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qcRMNiZtj5s?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />Love This :)Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-20616617994431409852011-02-02T10:33:00.000-08:002011-02-02T10:33:45.807-08:00My Homeshopping Theme SongSince it has been some time I have posted a funny story/blurb.... here we go!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ok, now imagine me up on ortho dropping off a patient with one of the techs trying to get past the nurses station where the EVIL desk secretaries and nurse manager(s) are!&nbsp; Now not all of the managers are evil... The managers up there are pretty cool but if you attempt to walk off with any pillows they start foaming at the mouth and try to bite your head off... The innocent volunteer lost and dosen't know what is going on look does not work. (damn it!)&nbsp; But any way back to imaging we are back on ortho with me and my dirty linen bags full of pillows and this music is playing:<br /><br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/XAYhNHhxN0A?fs=1&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/XAYhNHhxN0A?fs=1&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />and I am crouching down getting past the evils at the desk in black instead of my blue scrubs... and I get past and *DASH* (ok,ok "walk with a purpose" ) towards the elevators.... successfully taking out any nurse managers/ortho staff&nbsp; that come off of the elevators.&nbsp; I take the elevator down to the second floor where I am safe and&nbsp; wait for the tech since the OR is secure and my dumb volunteer badge dosen't swipe. If I try so many times security gets called and I get ripped a new one. Been there done that and don't wanna go back. I have one too many now lol!<br /><br />Since we had the "Blizzard of the Century" (*rolls eyes*) on Tuesday&nbsp; I couldn't make it since the truck hates the snow.&nbsp; So no hospital adventures, maybe I will get to go tomorrow so I can keep up on my schedule.... <br /><br />So in closing I leave you with Maxine!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUmjLRHZQ8I/AAAAAAAAAC4/bx9s81ZQHxE/s1600/barbecue.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUmjLRHZQ8I/AAAAAAAAAC4/bx9s81ZQHxE/s320/barbecue.gif" width="249" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUmjLyN_vnI/AAAAAAAAAC8/63_iwDAyr1I/s1600/barbecue2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUmjLyN_vnI/AAAAAAAAAC8/63_iwDAyr1I/s320/barbecue2.gif" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUmjMZuCg4I/AAAAAAAAADA/OyOdnXDJ47w/s1600/flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUmjMZuCg4I/AAAAAAAAADA/OyOdnXDJ47w/s320/flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUmjNPxey3I/AAAAAAAAADE/UfJIqualerk/s1600/guessyourage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUmjNPxey3I/AAAAAAAAADE/UfJIqualerk/s320/guessyourage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUmjNSVXkGI/AAAAAAAAADI/WIQkY2HQQUg/s1600/vaccine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUmjNSVXkGI/AAAAAAAAADI/WIQkY2HQQUg/s1600/vaccine.jpg" /></a></div>Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-88685368588057686132011-01-27T18:46:00.000-08:002011-01-27T18:46:42.443-08:00Wisdom From MaxineMy Favorite Cartoon Character Maxine. She had a huge tude but I love it!<br />Enjoy!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUIt1esjpsI/AAAAAAAAACk/uKREVW1o9sM/s1600/fiber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUIt1esjpsI/AAAAAAAAACk/uKREVW1o9sM/s320/fiber.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUIt1mYDX6I/AAAAAAAAACo/kunQZVYJjAU/s1600/Gingerbread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUIt1mYDX6I/AAAAAAAAACo/kunQZVYJjAU/s320/Gingerbread.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUIt19fq0oI/AAAAAAAAACs/EME9xLspRGE/s1600/public_restrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUIt19fq0oI/AAAAAAAAACs/EME9xLspRGE/s320/public_restrooms.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUIt2fOewfI/AAAAAAAAACw/Z0tWoiZD07I/s1600/traffic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TUIt2fOewfI/AAAAAAAAACw/Z0tWoiZD07I/s640/traffic.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-89866523034526610642011-01-27T07:33:00.000-08:002011-01-27T07:33:37.437-08:00I Hate Metro Bus Drivers...Ok... So when I was on my way to the Hospital A&nbsp; with the cake I made to celebrate the 200 pillows I had home shopped and in the parking lot a metro bus pulled out in front of me in the intersection when it was my turn to go and it required me to slam on the breaks,cuss at the driver and lay on the horn all at the same time.&nbsp; Unfortunately the cake did not make it.... the poor thing coded in the parking lot half&nbsp; past East Bon Queshia &nbsp; where I had to park due to the Hospital System's "Great Idea" of "Enhancing care by design" and the construction has left the whole parking lot and the surrounding structures a hot mess. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with them growing and improving patient care but during this whole mess the visitors and patients get even more confused in and already confusing hospital layout (So confusing they provide maps and the information desks) and have to park WAY OUT because the garages fill up so fast. I have had to help so many people try to figure out (With my limited knowledge of the hospital grounds)&nbsp; where to go. The only way I know how to get to the A,B,C buildings is via the escalator by patient discharge after that I have no idea.&nbsp; I also am not the person to ask for directions because I couldn't find my way out of a box without a GPS. <br /><br />But, it was a kind of boring day in the PACU I had so much time I did my anatomy lesson.... I had alot of fun and I have been dubbed the "Stud" of the PACU&nbsp; because I have lost about 10 of the 20 or so pounds I have to loose.&nbsp; I feel great! My clothes fit better and I have more energy. I never wanna go back to being fat.<br /><br />I also took a position up on Rehab with my second mother who transferred up there.&nbsp; I will be helping her out with some things and hopefully gaining knowledge of direct patent care who aren't so knocked up on narcotics up that they see pink elephants and think I am their son or hit on me O_o. <br /><br />I am also snooping around on Ortho scoping out where the pillows are so I can Homeshop for the PACU and dump them in a dirty linen bag so nobody asks any questions.&nbsp; See I have become addicted and can't help myself anymore*Evil Grin* They won't know what hit them. *Evil Laugh*<br /><br />So all of those traitor comments can be taken back.&nbsp; Come and see me on Tuesday and I will hopefully have a stash for you.&nbsp; Also,I have heard whispers that my blog is spreading through the pacu! Hopefully the whole hospital! <br /><br />That's all for now I will try to post a funny later :)Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-35998649505663871812011-01-25T21:10:00.000-08:002011-01-25T21:10:52.168-08:00Fellow bloggers and Homeshoopers alike!I have created an official merch store for Hospital volunteer with our <u style="color: red;"><b>EXCLUSIVE</b></u>&nbsp; I *Heart* Homeshopping t-shirts for the whole family!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cafepress.com/HospitalVolunteerBlogShoppe">Hopital Volunteer Shoppe</a><br /><br />Anyway... I will post a blog about the adventures of today tomorrow :) &nbsp;Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-59519687546395161462011-01-24T06:42:00.000-08:002011-01-24T06:42:54.117-08:00This song reminds me...<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YI4m-l2yRZA?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />Even in hard times I will survive. Epically now...Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-56553326135244205882011-01-24T06:23:00.000-08:002011-04-03T13:22:44.700-07:00P!nk - Perfect<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K3GkSo3ujSY?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />I love this song! It has a great meaning.Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-89561786389484813392011-01-23T17:49:00.000-08:002011-01-23T17:49:55.325-08:00An awesome post from Head Nurse Jo!So being the avid reader of <a href="http://head-nurse.blogspot.com/">Head Nurse&nbsp;</a> I was looking back at her archives and found this:<br /><br /><blockquote><h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://head-nurse.blogspot.com/2006/08/so-youre-starting-nursing-school.html">So You're Starting Nursing School...</a> </h3>Tips for student nurses of all ages, drawn from my own limited experience:<br /><br />1. Put aside inviolable time to study every damn day. Even weekends, even holidays. Don't get into the habit of thinking that you'll do it later, or that you can catch up. Study every day. You'll be glad you did.<br /><br />2. Put aside inviolable time to think about something other than nursing every damn day. That includes not thinking about nursing blogs, or blogging your own experience. If you don't keep some other interests alive, you'll turn into StudentNurseBot, and you'll go crazy.<br /><br />3. Yes, you will have no social life. This will not bother you. There's plenty of time for a social life after you've passed the NCLEX; nurses are notoriously hard partiers.<br /><br />4. Make the effort to look as nicely pressed and crisp and clean and starched as you can during clinicals. Really and truly, it makes a difference. You'll not only feel more confident, but your patients will feel better about having you in the room. And if you have a crappy day, at least you looked good.<br /><br />5. A word about your patients: on the whole, patients don't mind having student nurses. Some of them love it. Think about it: they get individualized attention from someone who's detail-oriented. They want you to succeed.<br /><br />6. A word about nurses: on the whole, nurses want you to succeed as well. In four years, I've only seen one group of students that I felt couldn't hack it as even marginal nurses. The other students I've seen I have wanted to help, encourage, and see do well. Yes, there is the occasional wackjob or sadist who hates students. You'll be able to pick that person out of a group in no time and avoid them.<br /><br />7. Another word about nurses: on the whole, nurses do not eat their young. The ones that do (and I work with one) bite everybody, not just the new nurses. And nobody likes them. Their colleagues avoid them, the doctors try to do end-runs around 'em, and management knows their tricks. Do not let the Nurse From Hell ruin your day.<br /><br />8. Look around at the class you're in. Two thirds of the people in the introductory courses will probably wash out. Support them, study with them, and lean on them anyway. The relationships you form in nursing school last for about five minutes after pinning, but they're the most important relationships you'll have during school.<br /><br />9. Some of your professors hate nursing. Some of them will try to discourage you, or will show favoritism to particular students for unfathomable reasons, or will be nasty without cause. Ignore those professors. Cultivate respectful relationships with the instructors who love what they do.<br /><br />10. Pay attention in A&amp;P. Learn enough skills to pass your skills lab, but don't fret about starting a zillion IVs. Know your drug book backwards, but remember that you'll have a set formulary in your hospital--you won't have to remember everything forever. Care plans suck, but they're useful in figuring out disease processes and really do come in handy sometimes. Never use "Potential For" as a nursing diagnosis more than once in a care plan. Make sure you have good pens. Always carry an extra scrub jacket.<br /><br />And get out there and kick some ass. Being a nurse is infinitely more pleasant and much, much easier than being a student. Soon you'll be done with school. While you're doing it, remember that those of us who've been there are pulling for you. </blockquote><br />This post has "refilled" my tank to pursue nursing after the "incident" at the recruiter.&nbsp; I love Jo and her <a href="http://head-nurse.blogspot.com/">blog</a> and have laughed and enjoyed reading about her life.&nbsp; She will be the <b>FIRST</b> featured blog on the new blog roll.Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-8973344874474726062011-01-14T18:54:00.000-08:002011-01-14T18:56:51.253-08:00A Funny List For Nurses<p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse throws up when the patient does.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse calls housekeeping when a patient throws up.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse wears so many pins on her name badge that you can’t read it.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse doesn’t wear a name badge for liability reasons.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse charts too much.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse doesn’t chart enough.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse loves to run to codes.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse makes new nurses run to codes.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse wants everyone to know s/he’s a nurse.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse doesn’t want anyone to know s/he’s a nurse.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse keeps detailed notes on a pad.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse writes on the back of her hand, paper scraps, napkins, etc.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse will spend all day trying to reorient a patient.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse will chart the patient who is disoriented and restrain him.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse can hear a beeping I-med at 50 yards.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse can’t hear any alarms at any distance.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse loves to hear abnormal heart and breath sounds.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse doesn’t want to know about them unless the patient is symptomatic.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse spends two hours giving a patient a bath.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse lets the CNA give the patient a bath.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse thinks people respect nurses.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse knows everybody blames everything on the nurse.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse looks for blood on a bandage hoping they will get to change it.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse knows a little blood never hurt anybody.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse looks for a chance “to work with the family.”</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse avoids the family.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse expects meds and supplies to be delivered on time.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse expects them to never be delivered at all.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse will spend days bladder training an incontinent patient.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse will insert a Foley catheter.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse always answers her phone.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse checks the caller ID before answering the phone.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse thinks psych patients are interesting.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse thinks psych patients are crazy.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse carries reference books in her/his bag.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse carries magazines, lunch and some “cough syrup” in her/his bag.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">A new nurse doesn’t find this list funny.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">An experienced nurse does.</font> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS"></font>&nbsp; <p><font face="Comic Sans MS">Via: Scrubsmag.com <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TTEM8ptKnLI/AAAAAAAAAB4/BVpoJDYKVF8/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"></font></p> Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-51845618131892077452011-01-09T18:58:00.000-08:002011-01-10T06:47:26.743-08:00Celebrating 200 Pillows!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TSpzc97D6iI/AAAAAAAAAA8/ACREeuBHwD4/s1600/pillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TSpzc97D6iI/AAAAAAAAAA8/ACREeuBHwD4/s400/pillow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />YES!!! I hit 200 Pillows last Tuesday at the PACU! I robbed ortho and rehab BLIND....&nbsp; I haven't got caught *yet*&nbsp; But I am celebrating not getting caught for homeshopping and for the fun that goes with it!&nbsp;&nbsp; One of my evil new years goal was to&nbsp; hit that magic number. *Evil Grin*<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And In Other News.....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Ripped from the headlines on ortho/rehab....</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TSp1fwYa_oI/AAAAAAAAABE/OVzR4Lp6Ue8/s1600/5b7e567b2c48ae2b1843bb129baeecda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TSp1fwYa_oI/AAAAAAAAABE/OVzR4Lp6Ue8/s320/5b7e567b2c48ae2b1843bb129baeecda.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-58000297692306831352011-01-09T09:04:00.000-08:002011-01-09T09:04:33.268-08:00Need encouragement with your New Years Goals?Try watching this uplifting video and see if it encourages you to go further in your journey to meet your goals. Thanks to Igniter Media ;)<br /><br />http://www.ignitermedia.com/mini-movies/1919/One-Small-StepHospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426983415134163057.post-12300732925251114872011-01-06T07:27:00.000-08:002011-01-06T07:27:35.987-08:00Season Of Wishes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TSMxxxTLHbI/AAAAAAAAAA4/SMWR1vO8TCk/s1600/seasonofwisheslogowornaments1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TSMxxxTLHbI/AAAAAAAAAA4/SMWR1vO8TCk/s200/seasonofwisheslogowornaments1.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Hi all :)<br /><br />So, I don't really know how to put this out there but...&nbsp; I would love for us (you and my self)&nbsp; to Grant a wish for a Make A Wish Child and his/her family.&nbsp; So I am asking for donations through that "Donate" button over there===&gt;&nbsp; It will take you to a PayPal Secure screen where you pick the amount and Its all confidential and I will never know how much you give. For those of you who don't know what The Make-A-Wish Foundation is please see the quotation below.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Century Schoolbook;">The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes</span><span style="font-family: Century Schoolbook;">&nbsp;of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Schoolbook;"><span lang="EN">Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, with 64 chapters in the United States and its territories. </span><span lang="EN">With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers,&nbsp;the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 200,000 wishes in the United States since its inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit mo.wish.org&nbsp;and discover how you can <em>share the power of a wish</em><sup>®</sup>.</span></span></blockquote>My family got to go on a trip to Disney World with the help of them and their generous sponsors and contributors.&nbsp;&nbsp; It would be a dream come true if we could grant a wish or even help just a little bit!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TSMxxXVhYNI/AAAAAAAAAA0/NCw6k28Pd3E/s1600/Make-A-Wish20Logo.11504008_std.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mqnTSYNZl14/TSMxxXVhYNI/AAAAAAAAAA0/NCw6k28Pd3E/s320/Make-A-Wish20Logo.11504008_std.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Here's how the money will be kept:<br /><br /><ul><li>The money will be stored in a High Yield Savings account through Pay Pal </li><li>All Donations will be matched by me up to $50&nbsp;</li><li>I will pay for all PayPal Processing fees that will be charged</li></ul>&nbsp;If you can't afford a monetary donation there are other ways to give too!<br /><br />If you have unused/unwanted frequent flyer miles,hotel points or new electronics drop me a line and I will get you to the right place to donate those points!<br /><br />This will not turn into the all I want to do is bug you for money blog.&nbsp; I will only mention it on occasion or when we hit a milestone in donations.&nbsp; I will STILL blog about my adventures :)<br /><br />Ok,now that I am done asking you for your money...&nbsp;&nbsp; I will go update the pillow count... It was slim pickings at the hospital! I am in a pillow desert. LOL!Hospital Volunteernoreply@blogger.com0